Hi everyone!  I am back again for a weekly installment of the Luxe for Less. I think this type of post will be posted two times a week, what do you all think of that? Maybe feature 3-5 items?

Like Gwen said in the comments section of my first L4L (luxe for less) post, it’s sometimes easier, less messy and overall better to just find something for cheaper than it is to try and make everything. Or so I think. Mostly because I don’t want to be up to my elbows in saw dust, spray paint and glue gun stringy things. You can relate, right?

Ottomans are something that can either be seen as an accessory or as necessary. I can see it both ways: In my living room I would love, love, love a cocktail table that functions as an ottoman, but in my bedroom I’d love a bench/ottoman that would in all likelihood be more decorative than functional (example: at the foot of the bed). Actually, if it was at the foot of the bed, I am pretty sure my dog Pee Wee would be like, “Holy crap, a new bed for me. AND it’s TUFTED! OMG mom, you shouldn’t have. Actually, you should because I am the king/diva of this house. Time for a nap. Where’s my matching tufted pillow?”

And then it’d be covered in dog hair. See, this is why I want inexpensive stuff in my home.

Item #1: Sullivan Leather Ottoman from Pottery Barn

$899 from Pottery Barn + Shipping + $50 delivery surcharge + tax

$270 from Overstock + $2.95 shipping

Or if you have your heart set on the saddle brown color, but not necessarily the leather, then this $99 ottoman from Overstock might fit the bill.

Item #2: The Crosby Stool from Williams-Sonoma Home

$1317 on sale from Williams-Sonoma + Shipping & Tax

You can buy 2 of the Williams-Sonoma and spend about $3K, or buy one of the above benches for $310 at Overstock + $2.95 shipping

Item #3: Fairfax Custom Square Ottoman from Williams-Sonoma Home

$637-$1,487 on sale from Williams-Sonoma + Tax & Shipping

$471 from Ballard Designs + Tax & Shipping (and this ottoman is 4” bigger PLUS has storage)

Item #4: Tufted Leather Ottoman from Neiman Marcus

$1729 from Neiman Marcus + $335 delivery/processing + tax

$357 from Overstock +  $2.95 shipping (plus it has a shelf!)

Hope these deals help someone out, and if you have an item you need to find for less, e-mail me!

**Disclaimer: I’ve never personally bought any of the items featured. Remember, sometimes you get what ya pay for, so read reviews and such before making any purchase regardless of price!**

So, I confess that I look at home decor product websites an insane amount. I have no shame.

I also confess that I become obsessed with items, but I also want to have them at the absolute CHEAPEST price. ABSOLUTE CHEAPEST.

Ya got that?

I will spend time searching for coupons, promo codes and eBates to figure out how to get the best deal possible, because let’s face…given this economy you have to spend smart.

Plus the more I save, the more I have to spend on other stuff.

But I digress.

Today I wanted to show you all some luxe items and their less-expensive, but equally luxe, counter parts.

Item #1: Stacked crystal sphere lamp (aka: the ball lamp)

$389 on sale at Restoration Hardware + shipping & tax

$290 at Pottery Barn + shipping & tax

$150 at Overstock + $2.95 shipping (no tax)

Item #2:  The Crystal Column Table Lamp

$249-$299 at Restoration Hardware + Shipping & Tax

$120 at Overstock + $2.95 Shipping (no tax)

$50 at Wal-Mart + Free Site-to-Store Shipping & Tax

There are lots more examples I have found, but I will save those for next time. If there’s an item you’re trying to find for less, feel free to e-mail me and I will see if I can help you out.

That being said…

I’ve noticed a lack of comments and a small drop in followers of my blog, and so I wanted to ask YOU if there were any special things you’d like to see featured or written about on this blog? With the closing date of our house coming nearer, I’ll surely have lots of great DIY stuff to post about. However, I never started this blog to turn it into a huge home decor blog, because I just know I am not that cool nor awesome at home decor junk. I also know I am random and write about things like Weight Watchers, Pussycat Doll DVD reviews, and whine about being fat and lower middle class. I’m not totally star-blogger material. But I do want my blog to be relevant, entertaining and ya know, read by people other than my husband. Suggestions are welcome, and I look forward to blogging more and losing followers less.

 

My good friend Laurel and I are in need of your assistance.

We are creating 2 fall table-scape photo shoots to help everyone get some ideas for the season and as a kind of showcase for some amazing products.

One will be a rustic theme, the other a more elegant theme.

We are lucky enough to have the amazingly talented Donna of Paper Dolls Photography working with us to do all the photography.

So where do you come in?

We are calling out to anyone interested who might like to contribute! We are looking for any and all things that might fit the themes.

It can be edible, paper goods, decor, linens, favors, etc.

We have created  an inspiration board for each theme to help give you guys some inspiration and get those creative juices flowing.

I am heading up the elegant one:

Laurel is heading up the rustic one:

If you think you would be interested in participating please contact Laurel at goagainstthegrain@yahoo.com or me at Monica20039@gmail.com and we will get you more details.

Those interested will need to send their submissions to me by the 27th of September. All participants will get copies of the photos featuring their items as well as insane amounts of promoting on many levels.

Feel free to share this with anyone you think might be interested.

We are very excited about this project and hope you will be too!

I remember when I first went to the Prime Outlets in San Marcos and I saw the Restoration Hardware outlet. I remember walking in and walking right back out because I just didn’t see anything that caught my eye. Who needs furniture and expensive linens when you’re in college? So, I walked over to the Coach Factory Outlet and called it a day.

Now that I am older, I have fallen in love with a few of Restoration Hardware’s items, and I wish their prices were something I could fall in love with, too. I’ve never been to an actual Restoration Hardware store, just the outlet, and while there are definitely deals to be had at the outlet, some of the items still feel a bit out of reach for me.

But, on this rainy labor day, won’t you dream a little dream with me as I lust over some of their stuff?

See that mirror leaning on the wall? You can buy it for about $1995 on their website, or you can hope to snag one at the outlet for about $1500.

At the outlet they also had the above sink base for about $1000 (countertop + sinks not included), which saves you a couple hundred dollars over their catalog/online price.

The center mirror retails for $495 but could be bought for only $99 at the outlet. NINETY-NINE! It had a few scratches, but overall the medicine cabinet would look sophisticated in any bathroom.

Daniel and I also saw this dining set-up in the store and our jaws dropped. It was so perfect, and we can’t wait to get it (or something like it) in a few years.

And the super luxe & regal Camden bed. This is *THE* bed Daniel and I have settled on. We’ve been ALL over the place with our bed search, but when we saw this bed at the outlet, we knew she was the one. I wanted tall + tufted, he wanted anything BUT a canopy bed, so this seems perfect. While it is not a tufted bed, can you imagine a gorgeous tufted chaise or bench at the footboard? I sure can! Swoon.

With her tall stature (67” tall), rich dark tobacco color & simple style, we knew we’d love this bed for years. The king bed retails for $1810+ online, but at the outlet she was $1374 plus $25 off per $100 you spent making her about $1000+ tax.

So, with all that, do you think we bought her?

No. Sadly, no.

But we did struggle with the decision of whether or not to rent the Uhaul ($150+ gas) and bring her home. And by home we mean Daniel’s parents house since we do not have king size mattresses yet. But alas, we did not buy her because we decided we’d be better off getting something we need like this:

 

Yes, apparently living on nearly an acre with a push mower is not any fun, so we’ll have to spend some moola on a riding lawn mower. Any recs? (Thanks Naomi for the CL find!)

But, I assure you that one way or another, that Camden bed will be MINE.

On our impromptu trip to the outlets, we also did swing by the Pottery Barn/Williams-Sonoma/West Elm (all-in-one) Outlet, and I always leave the PB outlet feeling a bit let down. I guess I never find any of those amazing bargains other people find. They did have a few things that I saw that stuck with me:

See that ottoman/coffee table? Like it? Love it? Well, I sure hope you do because it’s $2,650 online, but ONLY $2,050 at the outlet.

WTF. That is insane. With that being said, I am gonna make something just like it, and I think I’ll come out way ahead.

The Shayne Table from PB is very lovely- I really do love it. So does Daniel, and we were considering it for our breakfast nook until we saw it in person. Now we realize it is HUGE. But, you can snag the Mahogany color at the outlet for about $399 or buy it brand new for $499 during the PB sale (or $699 regularly).

These wine bases were on sale for $89 at the outlet for the color shown above or $99 for the black.

This medicine cabinet is about $270+ online at PB, but was scratched to hell and missing the knob at the outlet, bringing the price down to $19.97. Nothing some paint wouldn’t have fixed up!

I have seen the above table by West Elm countless times and have always thought it was kinda fugly. That is until I saw it in person. It’s way cute and super stylish. West Elm has it brand new for about $449+ and at the outlet it was $159 plus another 10% off. This is the one thing I wish we would have bought, because it was perfect for the breakfast nook and in great shape.

Ok, and I also do regret not being able/willing/rich enough to also plunk down $1K on the Camden bed. Have you ever bought furniture from any of the stores I’ve mentioned? What do you think about their quality, prices, etc.?

Dogs.

Sigh.